recherche

Recherche is a French noun meaning the act of seeking or the systematic investigation undertaken to acquire knowledge. In everyday usage it covers scientific research, investigative work, and the search for information or objects, as in la recherche scientifique, la recherche d’un emploi, or la recherche de preuves.

Etymology and usage: It derives from the verb chercher with the prefix re-, and the noun form expresses the abstract process of seeking. The phrase à la recherche de means "in search of." In academic and policy contexts, it is common to qualify the noun with terms such as recherche fondamentale (fundamental research) and recherche appliquée (applied research).

Recherché is the related adjective meaning "sought-after," "refined," or "carefully chosen." It appears in expressions like un goût recherché (a refined palate) or un objet recherché (a sought-after object).

Historical usage: La Recherche was the name of a French exploration ship used by Louis Antoine de Bougainville on his 1766–1769 voyage around the world, serving alongside L'Astrolabe. The vessel's name has appeared in other historical and literary contexts as well.

See also: chercheur (researcher), recherche scientifique, and the English word "research."